Lavandula plant named &#39;Voodoo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lavandula  cultivar named ‘Voodoo’ is disclosed, characterized by a long, dark purple terminal bracts with a broad angle of attachment. The new variety can also be characterized its round plant shape and long peduncle length. The new variety is a  Lavandula , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Lavandula stoechas

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Voodoo’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Lavandula cultivar is a product of a chance discovery by theinventors, Luen Miller and Manuel Morales. The new variety wasdiscovered at a commercial nursery belonging to the inventors, inWatsonville, Calif.

The new variety was selected during Spring of 2011 as a seedling ofunknown parentage. The seedling was discovered among plantings ofLavandula stoechas ‘Dedication’, unpatented and Lavandula stoechas ‘OttoQuast’, unpatented. The inventors presume these two varieties are theparent varieties.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed byvegetative cuttings December 9, 2011 at the same commercial nursery inWatsonville, Calif. Subsequent propagation has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type throughsuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Voodoo’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Voodoo’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Voodoo’ as a new and distinct Lavandulacultivar:

1. Dark purple infertile bract coloration.

2. Long length of infertile bracts.

3. Round plant form.

4. Wide angle of attachment and attitude of infertile bracts.

5. Long peduncle length.

6. Straight peduncles.

7. Strong, durable flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ are similar to plants of thepresumed parent, Lavandula stoechas ‘Dedication’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ produceflowers of a darker purple. Additionally, the flowers last longer andproduce infertile bracts that have a wider angle of attachment andattitude than ‘Dedication’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ are similar to plants of thepresumed parent; Lavandula stoechas ‘Otto Quast’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ produceflowers of a different color. Additionally, plants of the new varietyproduce infertile bracts that have a wider angle of attachment andattitude than ‘Otto Quast’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ are comparable to the varietyLavandula ‘Larkman Bee’, 20840. The two Lavandula varieties are similarin most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘Voodoo’differs in producing longer infertile bracts, longer peduncles and anoverall longer flower than the comparator. Additionally ‘Voodoo’produces a plant of stronger vigor and larger mature size than thecomparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ can also be compared to thecommercial variety Lavandula ‘Larkman Hazel’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,894.These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristicshowever, the new variety ‘Voodoo’ differs in producing longer infertilebracts, longer peduncles and an overall longer flower than thecomparator. Additionally ‘Voodoo’ produces a plant of stronger vigor andlarger mature size than the comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Voodoo’ grown outdoors in Watsonville, Calif. Theprominent plant in the foreground is ‘Voodoo’. The plant in thebackground, with a less regular, round shape is Lavendula ‘Dedication’.Age of the plants photographed is approximately 50 weeks from a rootedcutting. FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flower. The photographswere taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Voodoo’ plants grown outdoors during, Fall,Winter and Spring in Watsonville, Calif. The growing temperature rangedfrom 10° C. to 35° C. during the day and from 5° C. to 25° C. during thenight. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘Voodoo’-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at approximately            21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 25 to 35 days at 21°            C.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 50 weeks from rooted            cutting.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 60 cm.        -   Plant height.—Approximately 50 cm, to top of flowering            plane. Approximately 30 cm to top of foliar plane.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate to fast.        -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Approximately 16 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 0.35 cm.        -   Quantity of lateral branches.—About 50.        -   Plant habit.—Moderately dense, rounded ball shape.        -   Stem.—Juvenile Color: Near Yellow-Green group RHS 145B            Mature Color: Near Yellow-Green 147D Texture/Pubescence:            Densely pubescent.        -   Internode length.—Average 1.0 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite Leaf type: Simple Quantity:            Average 16 fully expanded per main branch and 20 juvenile            leaves. Average Length: Average 3.4 cm. (mature foliage)            Average Width: Average 0.4 cm. (mature foliage) Shape of            blade: Lanceolate Apex: Acute Base: Truncate Attachment:            Sessile Margin: Entire Texture of all surfaces: Pubescent            Leaf fragrance: Very strong Lavender scent. Color: Young            foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147B Young foliage            under side: Near Green RHS 137D Mature foliage upper side:            Near Green RHS 137B Mature foliage under side: Near Green            RHS 137A Venation: Type: Reticulate Venation color upper            side: Near Yellow-Green 144A, only main vein distinguishable            from foliage color. Venation color under side: Near            Yellow-Green 145B Petiole: Absent.-   Flower:    -   -   Bloom period.—Main flush late winter to late spring. Lesser            quantities of flowers produced throughout Summer and Fall.        -   Inflorescence.—Form: Small single flower in verticillasters            arranged in spikes. Most commonly 8 rows of flowers.            Infrequently 6 or 10 rows. Flowers have small bracts, and            large showy terminal bracts. Number of individual flowers            per spike: Average 144. Fragrance: Very strong lavender            scent Corolla shape: Salverform Petal Number: 5 Petals Fused            or Unfused: Fused at base. Petal Shape: Top 2 lobes obovate,            lower 3 lobes ovate. Petal Margin: Entire Petal Surfaces:            Glabrous Length: Approximately 0.8 cm. (corolla tube)            Diameter: Approximately 0.3 cm. Inflorescence Size,            excluding terminal bracts: Length: Approximately 5.5 cm.            Width: Approximately 1.8 cm. Shape: Cylindrical Coloration            of individual flowers, excluding terminal bracts: Immature:            Near Violet-Blue N89B Mature: Near Violet-Blue N89B, base            N155D Fading: Near Violet-Blue N92B, base N155D Calyx Width:            0.2 cm Calyx Length: 0.95 cm Calyx Shape: Flattened tube.            Calyx color: RHS Yellow-Green 144C Bract shape: Elliptic            Bract apex: Acute with a cusp. Bract Color: Near            Yellow-Green 144C , cusp colored Greyed-Purple 187A.        -   Terminal bracts (sterile).—Quantity: 4 large and 1 or 2            smaller per inflorescence.        -   Large bracts.—Attitude and angle of attachment: At least 2            of the large bracts are attached at an obtuse angle, near            75°. Terminal bracts and an upward and outwardly angled            attitude. Length: Approximately 3.5 to 4.5 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Form: Petaloid Margin: Entire and            undulating. Surface: Smooth Appearance: Matte. Shape:            Oblanceolate Apex: Acute Base: Attenuate. Vein Pattern:            Reticulate Duration on Plant: Approximately 12 weeks, with            good color. Persistent. Color: Upper side of immature bract:            Near RHS Violet 83C, base lighter, 83D. Veins darker, near            Violet-Blue N92A Under side of immature bract: Near RHS            Violet 83B, base lighter, 83C. Veins darker, near            Violet-Blue N92A Upper side of mature bract: Near RHS Violet            83B Under side of mature bract: Near RHS Violet 83A Bract            color fading to: Near RHS Purple 79B.        -   Small bracts.—Quantity: typically 1 or 2 Length:            Approximately 2.0 to 3.0 cm. Width: Approximately 0.8 cm,            unfolded. Apex: Shallow bi-lobe Margin: Entire, undulating            Base: Attemiate Aspect: Undulating and folded inward at the            mid-vein. Duration on Plant: Approximately 12 weeks.            Persistent Color: Upper side of immature bract: Near RHS            Violet 83C, base lighter, 83D. Veins darker, near            Violet-Blue N92A Under side of immature bract: Near RHS            Violet 83B, base lighter, 83C. Veins darker, near            Violet-Blue N92A Upper side of mature bract: Near RHS Violet            83B Under side of mature bract: Near RHS Violet 83A Bract            color fading to: Near RHS Purple 79B.-   Peduncle: Peduncle length: Average range approximately 9 to 11 cm.    Peduncle diameter: Approximately 0.4 cm. Aspect: Very straight    Color: Near RHS Green 138C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens: 4. Anther shape: linear. Anther length:            Approximately 0.05 cm. Anther color: Near RHS White N155A            Pollen quantity: Pollen production not observed.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Approximately 0.4 cm Style:            Length: Approximately 0.3 cm. Color: Near RHS White N155A            Stigma: Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS Violet-Blue N92B            Ovary: Minute and immeasurable.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed production not observed to date.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of Lavandula            stoechas. has been observed.        -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance.—Hardy perennial.            Tolerates high temperature to at least 32° C. Tolerates low            temperatures to −° 12C. While specific drought tolerance has            not been observed, once plants are established very little            water is necessary to maintain plants.        -   Fruit/seed production.—Fruit and seed production not            observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plantnamed ‘Voodoo’ as herein illustrated and described.